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Vera Stanhope #8
The Seagull
The gripping all-new eighth book in the beloved Vera Stanhope series.
A visit to a local prison brings Inspector DI Vera Stanhope face to face with an old enemy—former detective superintendent, now inmate, John Brace. Convicted of corruption and involved in a suspicious death, it seems that Brace has mellowed in prison. Notorious wheeler and dealer Robbie Marshall has been presumed missing, but Brace knows he's dead and points Vera in the direction of his grave.
The grave site is a shocking surprise, and the cold case takes Vera back in time—and close to home. Brace, Marshall, and a mysterious stranger know only as 'the Prof', were all close friends of her father, Hector. Hector was one of the last people to see Marshall alive before he disappeared in the mid-eighties from the faded seaside town of Whitley Bay, a wild, sleazy place. The one sophisticated establishment in the town at the time was The Seagull. Everyone involved in the case seems to be connected through the bar, including Brace's lover, the exotic waitress Mary-Frances Escuola who disappeared at the same time Marshall was killed.
To dig up the truth, Vera must overcome her prejudices and confront unwanted memories. Vera's vulnerability and her strength are on full display as she lends support to John Brace's motherless daughter, and comes to terms with the lack of a mother figure in her own life.
A visit to a local prison brings Inspector DI Vera Stanhope face to face with an old enemy—former detective superintendent, now inmate, John Brace. Convicted of corruption and involved in a suspicious death, it seems that Brace has mellowed in prison. Notorious wheeler and dealer Robbie Marshall has been presumed missing, but Brace knows he's dead and points Vera in the direction of his grave.
The grave site is a shocking surprise, and the cold case takes Vera back in time—and close to home. Brace, Marshall, and a mysterious stranger know only as 'the Prof', were all close friends of her father, Hector. Hector was one of the last people to see Marshall alive before he disappeared in the mid-eighties from the faded seaside town of Whitley Bay, a wild, sleazy place. The one sophisticated establishment in the town at the time was The Seagull. Everyone involved in the case seems to be connected through the bar, including Brace's lover, the exotic waitress Mary-Frances Escuola who disappeared at the same time Marshall was killed.
To dig up the truth, Vera must overcome her prejudices and confront unwanted memories. Vera's vulnerability and her strength are on full display as she lends support to John Brace's motherless daughter, and comes to terms with the lack of a mother figure in her own life.
398 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2017
2939 people are currently reading
4097 people want to read
About the author
Ann Cleeves
132 books8,832 followersAnn is the author of the books behind ITV's VERA, now in it's third series, and the BBC's SHETLAND, which will be aired in December 2012. Ann's DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. Ann's Shetland series bring us DI Jimmy Perez, investigating in the mysterious, dark, and beautiful Shetland Islands...
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 980 reviews
September 22, 2017
I have read and loved this author's Shetland series for years. Only recently, with her book before this one, have I read her Vera series. Only took one book to hook me with this series, and these characters.
This mystery, has Vera investigating and old crime, but it soon has new implications. Ties to someone very close to Vera, this outing hits close to home. Just love Vera herself, described as large, a little ungainly and very determined. She thinks herself irreplaceable, and it convinced her team can't handle things without her. She is unassuming, just a regular kind of person, and people just want to talk to her, and she takes full advantage of this natural talent. The other three members of her team are also interesting, varied in age and talents. This is a well written procedural, with another enticing location, Whitely Bay.
I know this is a series on TV, but I think my imagination does s better job, and I am always hesitant to watch something that may change the way I view either the characters or the series. If you enjoy police procedurals you should definitely try this series.
ARC from Netgalley.
This mystery, has Vera investigating and old crime, but it soon has new implications. Ties to someone very close to Vera, this outing hits close to home. Just love Vera herself, described as large, a little ungainly and very determined. She thinks herself irreplaceable, and it convinced her team can't handle things without her. She is unassuming, just a regular kind of person, and people just want to talk to her, and she takes full advantage of this natural talent. The other three members of her team are also interesting, varied in age and talents. This is a well written procedural, with another enticing location, Whitely Bay.
I know this is a series on TV, but I think my imagination does s better job, and I am always hesitant to watch something that may change the way I view either the characters or the series. If you enjoy police procedurals you should definitely try this series.
ARC from Netgalley.
November 20, 2017
Vera Stanhope was not in good spirits since her new boss Watkins gave her an assignment; a guest speaker at Warkworth Prison. Vera believed these current tasks were a way to get under her skin and she was unquestionably in his crosshairs. As Vera enters the prison and the small room to give her speech, she was surprised to see former Superintendent John Brace, now a prisoner who she helped to put away glaring at her. After Vera’s short presentation, Brace approached her and quietly said he had information he is confident she will want to hear; precisely where a dead body is buried. The book at times is quite repetitive with countless interviews and humdrum scenes, therefore dragging out the story line by taking too long to reach its conclusion. Having enjoyed other books in this series, The Seagull is not a top choice.
** Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. **
** Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. **
August 18, 2020
Ah, the world seems to take on a better glow when you're wrapped up in an Ann Cleeves novel. Particularly, since I'm working my way backwards through the Vera Stanhope series.
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope finds herself in the mix of a cold case handed back to her by her new boss Watkins. They seem to be like two Samurai warriors locked in a standing stare. Who's to blink first? Well, this time it's Vera who is sent to speak at a local prison.
But a different set of eyes are locked in on her when Vera looks out at the inmates and focuses on John Brace. Brace was convicted of corruption and involvement in the death of a gamekeeper from the area. One thing to mention......Brace was a former detective superintendent and an old enemy of Vera's.
Brace chats with Vera later. He tells her that he would be willing to give details about the disappearance of a certain bad guy, Robbie Marshall, who may hold the key in this cold case. But Brace leans in on a bargain for this information. He wants Vera to look in on his daughter Patty and her children. Patty is coming undone after her wayward husband left her. Vera has no idea of what is lurking behind this door of negotiations.
Ann Cleeves has hit on a superb diamond mine in the likes of Vera Stanhope. She's hardly the female version of Sherlock Holmes. Vera's physicality gives way to the fact that she loves a plate full of cookies and a stout drink when things go south and things go south quite often with detective work. She also has a tendency toward extreme truthfulness which lacks a prudent filter. But Vera has an uncanny talent for seeing what others dismiss. She's a remarkable detective who only wishes to guide her duckling detectives in the right direction.....willing or unwilling.
If you haven't read a book in the Vera Stanhope series, you may just want to pick up a few and dig in. Good, good stuff.
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope finds herself in the mix of a cold case handed back to her by her new boss Watkins. They seem to be like two Samurai warriors locked in a standing stare. Who's to blink first? Well, this time it's Vera who is sent to speak at a local prison.
But a different set of eyes are locked in on her when Vera looks out at the inmates and focuses on John Brace. Brace was convicted of corruption and involvement in the death of a gamekeeper from the area. One thing to mention......Brace was a former detective superintendent and an old enemy of Vera's.
Brace chats with Vera later. He tells her that he would be willing to give details about the disappearance of a certain bad guy, Robbie Marshall, who may hold the key in this cold case. But Brace leans in on a bargain for this information. He wants Vera to look in on his daughter Patty and her children. Patty is coming undone after her wayward husband left her. Vera has no idea of what is lurking behind this door of negotiations.
Ann Cleeves has hit on a superb diamond mine in the likes of Vera Stanhope. She's hardly the female version of Sherlock Holmes. Vera's physicality gives way to the fact that she loves a plate full of cookies and a stout drink when things go south and things go south quite often with detective work. She also has a tendency toward extreme truthfulness which lacks a prudent filter. But Vera has an uncanny talent for seeing what others dismiss. She's a remarkable detective who only wishes to guide her duckling detectives in the right direction.....willing or unwilling.
If you haven't read a book in the Vera Stanhope series, you may just want to pick up a few and dig in. Good, good stuff.
September 22, 2017
A wonderful eighth instalment of Ann Cleeves’ indomitable DI Vera Stanhope of Northumbria Police threatens to bring the shadowy memories of her early years well and truly home to roost as the investigation steers dangerously close to her own father and his nefarious dealings. Offering a glimpse into the world of Hector Stanhope, a disowned member of the landed gentry turned passionate egg collector of rare birds and taxidermist, The Seagull sheds light on a character that has always remained firmly in the background. Until now Vera’s past has so far been shrouded in mystery and her sensitivities to discussing it have been marked by tension. Remaining somewhat is awe of Hector, all the while knowing of his connections to rural crime, what should be a cushy prison talk during the summer forces Vera to confront the demons of her past and the possibility that her father had a far darker and more sinister history. As digging into the unsavoury side of Hector’s and his pals exploits threatens to open the door to some home truths, Vera finds herself presented with a chance to finally overcome her father's disparaging and dismissive attitude to her once and for all.
When Vera’s new boss, a fast-track graduate, sends her in to “make the right impression” and deliver a talk to the elderly and disabled wing of a Category B prison, the idea of half day jaunt up the coast with an ice-cream on the way home convinces her that it might not be such a waste of time. Amongst the participants is an old enemy in the shape of former Detective Superintendent John Brace, a man brought down for corruption and his involvement in the death of a gamekeeper, but more significantly one of the legendary Gang of Four of which Hector was the founder. Given that redoubtable Vera was integral in the downfall of disgraced John Brace, albeit kept well away from the intricacies of the investigation due to her own associations, there is no love lost between the pair however a begrudging mutual admiration lingers. Now ailed by MS and with a date before the parole board, Brace offers to enlighten DI Vera Stanhope on where to find the bones of former fixer and procurer of just about anything, Robbie Marshall, also one of her father's oddball group are buried. And all he wants in return is that stubborn Vera starts keeping an eye out for his recently reunited daughter, Patty. With Robbie Marshall reported missing in 1995 by his devoted mother, Eleanor, the local grapevine preferred to speculate that he had fled before getting caught red handed for defrauding his employers, Swan Hunter shipyard.
With DI Vera Stanhope’s curiosity piqued and at something of a loss without a murder investigation to get her teeth into, her very own ‘gang of four’ (DS Joe Ashworth, DC Holly Clarke and reliable old-timer Charlie) find themselves occupied chasing down dead ends and decades old testimonies, on what Joe thinks is one of Vera’s whims! However, a visit to Brace’s daughter and single mother of three, Patty Keane, sets the wheels in motion for Vera’s endeavours, but crafty Vera knows better than to trust a word out of Brace’s mouth. When the supposed location of Marshall’s bones, a culvert of St Mary’s Island in once thriving Whitley Bay, turns up enough bones for two skeletons Vera marches in to Warkworth Prison to demand an audience with Brace. She is never fooled for a minute by his denial that he knew nothing about the second body in the culvert, and suspects an ulterior motive lies behind his information exchange.
An engrossing mystery swiftly ensues, forcing wily Vera to revive her memories of the men that surrounded her father and piece together his place in a shady group of allies with connections to murder, prostitution and human trafficking. Aside from John Brace, Hector and Robbie Marshall, the identity of the mysterious fourth member of the group known as ‘the Prof’ confounds Vera and Brace refuses to enlighten her. In the years of the early 1990’s, the Gang of Four socialised and celebrated their exploits at a glamorous nightclub, The Seagull, with a reputation above all the other haunts in Whitley Bay. Overshadowing the waterfront, The Seagull was the location of choice for local celebrities, footballers and staffed by cosmopolitan waitressing staff. Burnt down in a suspected arson incident long ago, the secrets that is held so tightly for over twenty-years are brought to light through a mix of personal memories and factual recollections. Former owner of The Seagull, Angus Sinclair, has returned the Whitley Bay and is fronting the proposed regeneration of the area, but is tight-lipped and slippery when questioned on his previous business dealings. For beleaguered Patty a connection to The Seagull comes in the form of errant husband, Gary Keane, an electronics whizz and a man with his own connections to the Gang of Four. However for Patty, the promise of discovering more about her birth mother sees her consulting Vera on the heroin dependent prostitute, Mary-Frances Lascuola, a woman who captured sentimental John Brace’s heart. Long suspected dead, when the second body discovered in the culvert is confirmed as belonging to a female, it seems reasonable to conclude that the bones belong to Patty’s mother, but can things ever be so neatly resolved?
As a reader, it is impossible not to sit back and admire DI Vera Stanhope as her brusque manner, lack of feminine wiles and gift for getting the goods out of suspects and witnesses goes unparalleled. Behind her scruffy demeanour, tent like dresses and Velcro sandals, Ann Cleeves provides a warts and all look at Vera, a woman who is both obsessive and impatient. As Vera frequently recognises her own pettiness as she pulls the strings behind her team, she is blessed with a good heart and a steely dedication to a job that she has made her life. Well paced, truly involving and frequently very humorous, The Seagull sees Vera confront a future discovery which threatens to encroach on her personal life and leave her conflicted. Despite this being a cold case and driven in part by Vera’s thirst for action, the opportunity to unravel the chequered history of Hector Stanhope and his crew is impossible for Vera to resist. Ann Cleeves has constructed a clever historical puzzle which sits neatly alongside what regular readers know already of Vera’s history and background.
Despite Vera being the focal point of her tight knit team, Cleeves never neglects her supporting cast, with Charlie benefitting from a recent boost of his daughter's return home, pet DS Joe Ashworth becoming more assertive, although still torn between the demands of his wife and ‘other woman’ and DC Holly Clarke starting to shape up quite nicely. Recent instalments to the Vera series have included parts of the narrative as seen from the perspective of both Joe and Holly, and this has proved beneficial in terms of delivering a more well-rounded feel to the series.
Warmth, wit and a fantastic location in Whitley Bay which captures the imagination combines to make this an excellent eighth novel and DI Vera Stanhope’s finest hour!
When Vera’s new boss, a fast-track graduate, sends her in to “make the right impression” and deliver a talk to the elderly and disabled wing of a Category B prison, the idea of half day jaunt up the coast with an ice-cream on the way home convinces her that it might not be such a waste of time. Amongst the participants is an old enemy in the shape of former Detective Superintendent John Brace, a man brought down for corruption and his involvement in the death of a gamekeeper, but more significantly one of the legendary Gang of Four of which Hector was the founder. Given that redoubtable Vera was integral in the downfall of disgraced John Brace, albeit kept well away from the intricacies of the investigation due to her own associations, there is no love lost between the pair however a begrudging mutual admiration lingers. Now ailed by MS and with a date before the parole board, Brace offers to enlighten DI Vera Stanhope on where to find the bones of former fixer and procurer of just about anything, Robbie Marshall, also one of her father's oddball group are buried. And all he wants in return is that stubborn Vera starts keeping an eye out for his recently reunited daughter, Patty. With Robbie Marshall reported missing in 1995 by his devoted mother, Eleanor, the local grapevine preferred to speculate that he had fled before getting caught red handed for defrauding his employers, Swan Hunter shipyard.
With DI Vera Stanhope’s curiosity piqued and at something of a loss without a murder investigation to get her teeth into, her very own ‘gang of four’ (DS Joe Ashworth, DC Holly Clarke and reliable old-timer Charlie) find themselves occupied chasing down dead ends and decades old testimonies, on what Joe thinks is one of Vera’s whims! However, a visit to Brace’s daughter and single mother of three, Patty Keane, sets the wheels in motion for Vera’s endeavours, but crafty Vera knows better than to trust a word out of Brace’s mouth. When the supposed location of Marshall’s bones, a culvert of St Mary’s Island in once thriving Whitley Bay, turns up enough bones for two skeletons Vera marches in to Warkworth Prison to demand an audience with Brace. She is never fooled for a minute by his denial that he knew nothing about the second body in the culvert, and suspects an ulterior motive lies behind his information exchange.
An engrossing mystery swiftly ensues, forcing wily Vera to revive her memories of the men that surrounded her father and piece together his place in a shady group of allies with connections to murder, prostitution and human trafficking. Aside from John Brace, Hector and Robbie Marshall, the identity of the mysterious fourth member of the group known as ‘the Prof’ confounds Vera and Brace refuses to enlighten her. In the years of the early 1990’s, the Gang of Four socialised and celebrated their exploits at a glamorous nightclub, The Seagull, with a reputation above all the other haunts in Whitley Bay. Overshadowing the waterfront, The Seagull was the location of choice for local celebrities, footballers and staffed by cosmopolitan waitressing staff. Burnt down in a suspected arson incident long ago, the secrets that is held so tightly for over twenty-years are brought to light through a mix of personal memories and factual recollections. Former owner of The Seagull, Angus Sinclair, has returned the Whitley Bay and is fronting the proposed regeneration of the area, but is tight-lipped and slippery when questioned on his previous business dealings. For beleaguered Patty a connection to The Seagull comes in the form of errant husband, Gary Keane, an electronics whizz and a man with his own connections to the Gang of Four. However for Patty, the promise of discovering more about her birth mother sees her consulting Vera on the heroin dependent prostitute, Mary-Frances Lascuola, a woman who captured sentimental John Brace’s heart. Long suspected dead, when the second body discovered in the culvert is confirmed as belonging to a female, it seems reasonable to conclude that the bones belong to Patty’s mother, but can things ever be so neatly resolved?
As a reader, it is impossible not to sit back and admire DI Vera Stanhope as her brusque manner, lack of feminine wiles and gift for getting the goods out of suspects and witnesses goes unparalleled. Behind her scruffy demeanour, tent like dresses and Velcro sandals, Ann Cleeves provides a warts and all look at Vera, a woman who is both obsessive and impatient. As Vera frequently recognises her own pettiness as she pulls the strings behind her team, she is blessed with a good heart and a steely dedication to a job that she has made her life. Well paced, truly involving and frequently very humorous, The Seagull sees Vera confront a future discovery which threatens to encroach on her personal life and leave her conflicted. Despite this being a cold case and driven in part by Vera’s thirst for action, the opportunity to unravel the chequered history of Hector Stanhope and his crew is impossible for Vera to resist. Ann Cleeves has constructed a clever historical puzzle which sits neatly alongside what regular readers know already of Vera’s history and background.
Despite Vera being the focal point of her tight knit team, Cleeves never neglects her supporting cast, with Charlie benefitting from a recent boost of his daughter's return home, pet DS Joe Ashworth becoming more assertive, although still torn between the demands of his wife and ‘other woman’ and DC Holly Clarke starting to shape up quite nicely. Recent instalments to the Vera series have included parts of the narrative as seen from the perspective of both Joe and Holly, and this has proved beneficial in terms of delivering a more well-rounded feel to the series.
Warmth, wit and a fantastic location in Whitley Bay which captures the imagination combines to make this an excellent eighth novel and DI Vera Stanhope’s finest hour!
September 27, 2017
Atmospheric, meticulous, and sophisticated!
In this latest novel by Cleeves, The Seagull, DI Vera Stanhope finds herself immersed in a cold case involving corruption, trafficking, drugs, blackmail, abuse, adoption, and murder that may just end up hitting a little too close to home.
The writing style is smooth, descriptive and effortless. The characters, including the nosy, complex, lovable heroine, are well-developed, relentless, and creative. And the plot is a well-paced, cleverly plotted police procedural full of suspects, clues, red herrings, solid deduction, and swirling emotions.
The Seagull is the eighth book in the Vera Stanhope series, and whether you’re new to the series or a long-standing fan this novel will be sure to please. It is an entertaining, gripping, mysterious tale that emphasizes the enduring psychological effects parents can have on their children even long after they’re gone.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
In this latest novel by Cleeves, The Seagull, DI Vera Stanhope finds herself immersed in a cold case involving corruption, trafficking, drugs, blackmail, abuse, adoption, and murder that may just end up hitting a little too close to home.
The writing style is smooth, descriptive and effortless. The characters, including the nosy, complex, lovable heroine, are well-developed, relentless, and creative. And the plot is a well-paced, cleverly plotted police procedural full of suspects, clues, red herrings, solid deduction, and swirling emotions.
The Seagull is the eighth book in the Vera Stanhope series, and whether you’re new to the series or a long-standing fan this novel will be sure to please. It is an entertaining, gripping, mysterious tale that emphasizes the enduring psychological effects parents can have on their children even long after they’re gone.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
March 17, 2025
One of my favorite books in the series, the collision between past and present was beautifully done.
There are a lot of secondary storylines and characters— but Cleeves is a true master of juggling and balancing a richly cast plot. How she weaves her story and character connections is fairly stupendous at times— especially in this book.
(Reviewed 3/15/25)
There are a lot of secondary storylines and characters— but Cleeves is a true master of juggling and balancing a richly cast plot. How she weaves her story and character connections is fairly stupendous at times— especially in this book.
(Reviewed 3/15/25)
October 22, 2017
I've been watching the series Vera on PBS for a while and enjoying Brenda Blethyn's performance as the title character, so I am pleased to have had the opportunity to read a book from the series (my first) through NetGalley. I notice some subtle changes between the two mediums but otherwise an excellent carryover of the essence and integrity of characters and stories. This latest of stories has not yet been televised in the U.S. but comes just after the most current televised outing. It involves former detective superintendent John Brace, now a prison inmate due to a conviction for corruption. Now he and Vera are to become entangled again.
First off, I was struck as I read by the depth of Cleeves' writing. All of her characters are drawn as complete and complex beings; even those who may only have one appearance in the book are allowed to be "real" people. At times, there are definite differences from the TV adaptation, in tone and sometimes in substance, but these only add to my wish to read all of Cleeves' books. For I find that I enjoy Vera in both mediums. She is wonderful in the televised expression where she is presented as an everyday hard-working copper who gives all for her guys and the victims and expects the same in return. She's brash but she cares. In print, she seems a bit edgier but she still cares about victims and about those who work with her. And any plot differences on TV don't bother me at all--I imagine they were done to improve the ease of filming and continuity.
So definitely recommended!
4.5* rounded to 5
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
First off, I was struck as I read by the depth of Cleeves' writing. All of her characters are drawn as complete and complex beings; even those who may only have one appearance in the book are allowed to be "real" people. At times, there are definite differences from the TV adaptation, in tone and sometimes in substance, but these only add to my wish to read all of Cleeves' books. For I find that I enjoy Vera in both mediums. She is wonderful in the televised expression where she is presented as an everyday hard-working copper who gives all for her guys and the victims and expects the same in return. She's brash but she cares. In print, she seems a bit edgier but she still cares about victims and about those who work with her. And any plot differences on TV don't bother me at all--I imagine they were done to improve the ease of filming and continuity.
So definitely recommended!
4.5* rounded to 5
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
August 28, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Ann Cleeves is best known as the brainchild behind popular British television series Vera and Shetland, both series are based on her bestselling books on detectives Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez. Cleeves has obvious worldwide appeal and her latest novel, The Seagull, marks her eighth novel in the Vera Stanhope series. The Seagull is a startling crime novel, about the tenuous nature of family relationships and the extortion that is entrenched in the core of a sleepy seaside community.
Detective inspector Vera Stanhope’s past catches up with her when she makes a visit to the local prison. Vera has a difficult confrontation with John Brace, a former detective superintendent, who was once closely affiliated with her late father, Hector. John Brace is in jail for corruption charges and for his involvement in the death of a man. When Vera comes face to face with this figure from her painful past, he unexpectedly offers Vera an investigative lifeline. John provides Vera with vital information pertaining to the unsolved missing person’s case of Robbie Marshall, a well-known figure in the shady underworld in which John and his associates moved in. John advises Vera that Robbie is not missing, he is in fact dead. By securing Vera’s promise to look after his family while he is in jail, John reveals the location of Robbie Marshall’s body, which is supposedly buried in the area of Whitely Bay, in the vicinity of St Mary’s Island. When Vera’s search team scale the area for the body, they are shocked to find the remains of two skeletons. In order to solve this case and bring closure to the loved ones of these two skeletal remains, Vera, along with the help of her team and bent cop John Brace, must work together to put the past to rest.
I went into reading The Seagull with a certain degree of trepidation. It is always risky reading a book that is part of an established series. The Seagull is my introduction to the work of renowned British crime author Ann Cleeves. Although I have heard of the successful Vera and Shetland television series, I also haven’t watched any episodes of these popular adaptations. So I went into reading The Seagull with fresh eyes. I am glad I took a chance on reading The Seagull and on the work of Ann Cleeves, as I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I believe this was down to the command Ann Cleeves has of her characters, setting and plot. I also found Cleeves has an easy writing style that immediately drew me into the unfolding events of this solid British crime novel.
Vera Stanhope is a well defined character. Although The Seagull is quite a way into this established series, I still got a very good feel for this character. I quickly discovered, thanks to the skilled work of Ann Cleeves, Vera’s unique quirks, flaws and past history. Likewise, Vera’s team of officers, Joe, Holly and Charlie are fully fleshed out. The secondary characters in this novel, such as John Brace and his daughter Patty, also bring essential character elements to the narrative as a whole.
There is plenty to keep the reader busy with in The Seagull. Cleeves uses this latest novel to explore a whole host of themes. These include strained family relations, corruption, blackmail, the sex trade, drug use and adoption. The novel largely revolves around assigning an identity to and solving the cases of the two skeletons found by Vera and her team. Finding out the cause of death and the identity of these remains was one of the reasons I continued to read this novel in (almost) one sitting. I had a job tearing myself away from this novel. Cleeves pads out the mystery aspect of The Seagull extremely well, by providing the reader with plenty of information to ponder on, complete with some messy plot diversions, in order that they can draw their own conclusions. For long time fans of the heroine Vera Stanhope, the process of investigating the mystery of the skeletal remains gives the reader a deeper insight into the personal world of the enigmatic detective.
Cleeves does a fine job of portraying a solid sense of place in her latest novel. The Seagull is a highly atmospheric read and the main location of the novel, a seaside town located on the north-east of Britain, was meticulously portrayed by Cleeves. This strong sense of place is grounded in authenticity, which is drawn from the fact that Cleeves has lived in the location in which the novel is set. In the author’s note at the close of the novel, Cleeves does make it clear that her descriptions of St Mary’s Island and Whitely Bay are in no way meant to denigrate the area. Instead, Cleeves hopes that by basing her new book at these locations it will serve to draw positive attention to the area, as a place to visit and one day restore.
Ann Cleeves has herself a new fan, after reading The Seagull, a book I was absorbed in from the opening to the closing page. I am very keen to explore more of this author’s extensive back catalogue. The Seagull is a riveting crime mystery novel that explores strained family relationships and the dark underworld of crime and corruption in a seaside community. It is a story that has implications for those in the past and the present, as well as the popular female detective Vera Stanhope. I highly recommend this novel to fans of the crime or mystery genre. Newcomers and established fans of Ann Cleeves will be more than satisfied by The Seagull.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Ann Cleeves is best known as the brainchild behind popular British television series Vera and Shetland, both series are based on her bestselling books on detectives Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez. Cleeves has obvious worldwide appeal and her latest novel, The Seagull, marks her eighth novel in the Vera Stanhope series. The Seagull is a startling crime novel, about the tenuous nature of family relationships and the extortion that is entrenched in the core of a sleepy seaside community.
Detective inspector Vera Stanhope’s past catches up with her when she makes a visit to the local prison. Vera has a difficult confrontation with John Brace, a former detective superintendent, who was once closely affiliated with her late father, Hector. John Brace is in jail for corruption charges and for his involvement in the death of a man. When Vera comes face to face with this figure from her painful past, he unexpectedly offers Vera an investigative lifeline. John provides Vera with vital information pertaining to the unsolved missing person’s case of Robbie Marshall, a well-known figure in the shady underworld in which John and his associates moved in. John advises Vera that Robbie is not missing, he is in fact dead. By securing Vera’s promise to look after his family while he is in jail, John reveals the location of Robbie Marshall’s body, which is supposedly buried in the area of Whitely Bay, in the vicinity of St Mary’s Island. When Vera’s search team scale the area for the body, they are shocked to find the remains of two skeletons. In order to solve this case and bring closure to the loved ones of these two skeletal remains, Vera, along with the help of her team and bent cop John Brace, must work together to put the past to rest.
I went into reading The Seagull with a certain degree of trepidation. It is always risky reading a book that is part of an established series. The Seagull is my introduction to the work of renowned British crime author Ann Cleeves. Although I have heard of the successful Vera and Shetland television series, I also haven’t watched any episodes of these popular adaptations. So I went into reading The Seagull with fresh eyes. I am glad I took a chance on reading The Seagull and on the work of Ann Cleeves, as I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I believe this was down to the command Ann Cleeves has of her characters, setting and plot. I also found Cleeves has an easy writing style that immediately drew me into the unfolding events of this solid British crime novel.
Vera Stanhope is a well defined character. Although The Seagull is quite a way into this established series, I still got a very good feel for this character. I quickly discovered, thanks to the skilled work of Ann Cleeves, Vera’s unique quirks, flaws and past history. Likewise, Vera’s team of officers, Joe, Holly and Charlie are fully fleshed out. The secondary characters in this novel, such as John Brace and his daughter Patty, also bring essential character elements to the narrative as a whole.
There is plenty to keep the reader busy with in The Seagull. Cleeves uses this latest novel to explore a whole host of themes. These include strained family relations, corruption, blackmail, the sex trade, drug use and adoption. The novel largely revolves around assigning an identity to and solving the cases of the two skeletons found by Vera and her team. Finding out the cause of death and the identity of these remains was one of the reasons I continued to read this novel in (almost) one sitting. I had a job tearing myself away from this novel. Cleeves pads out the mystery aspect of The Seagull extremely well, by providing the reader with plenty of information to ponder on, complete with some messy plot diversions, in order that they can draw their own conclusions. For long time fans of the heroine Vera Stanhope, the process of investigating the mystery of the skeletal remains gives the reader a deeper insight into the personal world of the enigmatic detective.
Cleeves does a fine job of portraying a solid sense of place in her latest novel. The Seagull is a highly atmospheric read and the main location of the novel, a seaside town located on the north-east of Britain, was meticulously portrayed by Cleeves. This strong sense of place is grounded in authenticity, which is drawn from the fact that Cleeves has lived in the location in which the novel is set. In the author’s note at the close of the novel, Cleeves does make it clear that her descriptions of St Mary’s Island and Whitely Bay are in no way meant to denigrate the area. Instead, Cleeves hopes that by basing her new book at these locations it will serve to draw positive attention to the area, as a place to visit and one day restore.
Ann Cleeves has herself a new fan, after reading The Seagull, a book I was absorbed in from the opening to the closing page. I am very keen to explore more of this author’s extensive back catalogue. The Seagull is a riveting crime mystery novel that explores strained family relationships and the dark underworld of crime and corruption in a seaside community. It is a story that has implications for those in the past and the present, as well as the popular female detective Vera Stanhope. I highly recommend this novel to fans of the crime or mystery genre. Newcomers and established fans of Ann Cleeves will be more than satisfied by The Seagull.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
August 12, 2017
The latest case in the 'Vera' series (#8) has a very personal connection for her. It stirs up almost forgotten memories brings her back to her past as it involves her late father & his friends, known as the gang of 4.
It begins with an old friend of her father's (ex-CID Superintendent), John Brace, now enjoying the hospitality of Her Majesty's prison for his crimes, revealing to Vera that he knows where the body of a criminal is buried, a man who went missing over 20 years ago. Robbie Marshall had been part of the gang of 4, along with Brace, another man nicknamed the 'Prof' and Vera's own father. This was a gang that was involved in all sorts of illegal activities.
Marshall went missing decades ago, leaving his mother wondering what happened to him. Now Brace tells Vera that Marshall was murdered and that his body is buried at Whitley Bay, a once popular seaside spot for bar hopping teenagers. Vera arranges to have body dug up and to her surprise finds that there's a second body buried in the same location. Both have been buried there for over 20 years. This has Vera & her team tracking down anyone who remembers anything from that turbulent time.
One club stood out from those days, The Seagull. It was for adults who had money & style, the rich & famous. On the surface it was a romantic jazz club, but one that contained many secrets. And someone is willing, even after all of this time, to ensure that those secrets are never revealed.
The bodies found seem to be connected in some way to The Seagull.....and it has Vera questioning how the gang of 4 fit into all of this and what dealings they had with the jazz club. On a personal level, it also has Vera examining how well she really knew her father.
Another brilliant book in this series. The author paints a wonderful picture of an era. Even though i grew up in Canada, It still brought back fond memories of my own wild student days. Ann Cleeves is a favourite of mine and i always look forward to reading her latest whodunit. This latest in the series is another absorbing complex mystery that kept me turning the pages. I'm always amazed at how clever she is at tying everything together. 4.5 Stars - Highly recommended!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an advance copy :)
It begins with an old friend of her father's (ex-CID Superintendent), John Brace, now enjoying the hospitality of Her Majesty's prison for his crimes, revealing to Vera that he knows where the body of a criminal is buried, a man who went missing over 20 years ago. Robbie Marshall had been part of the gang of 4, along with Brace, another man nicknamed the 'Prof' and Vera's own father. This was a gang that was involved in all sorts of illegal activities.
Marshall went missing decades ago, leaving his mother wondering what happened to him. Now Brace tells Vera that Marshall was murdered and that his body is buried at Whitley Bay, a once popular seaside spot for bar hopping teenagers. Vera arranges to have body dug up and to her surprise finds that there's a second body buried in the same location. Both have been buried there for over 20 years. This has Vera & her team tracking down anyone who remembers anything from that turbulent time.
One club stood out from those days, The Seagull. It was for adults who had money & style, the rich & famous. On the surface it was a romantic jazz club, but one that contained many secrets. And someone is willing, even after all of this time, to ensure that those secrets are never revealed.
The bodies found seem to be connected in some way to The Seagull.....and it has Vera questioning how the gang of 4 fit into all of this and what dealings they had with the jazz club. On a personal level, it also has Vera examining how well she really knew her father.
Another brilliant book in this series. The author paints a wonderful picture of an era. Even though i grew up in Canada, It still brought back fond memories of my own wild student days. Ann Cleeves is a favourite of mine and i always look forward to reading her latest whodunit. This latest in the series is another absorbing complex mystery that kept me turning the pages. I'm always amazed at how clever she is at tying everything together. 4.5 Stars - Highly recommended!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an advance copy :)
April 20, 2021
Listened to the audiobook with Simon. We loved the character development and gradual unravelling of the story. We looked forward with relish to coming back to it each time. I especially enjoyed learning about Vera's relationship with each of her staff and her understanding of them.
February 23, 2020
I usually try to read books in order to get a feel for the main character, especially in detective/mystery series. However, with Ann Cleeves, you don't always have to and this was no exception. Her characters are well thought out and developed. Her mysteries are clever and I enjoyed starting the Vera Stanhope series, even out of order. She is strong willed with a gift for solving crimes. I found the backstory of her father, Hector, interesting as he had ties to the murderers in this particular book. As always, the places that she sets her books in, play as much a part, as the characters themselves.
I will definitely be back for the other books in this series.
I will definitely be back for the other books in this series.
June 7, 2021
Well of course I had to hit a blip in my series read. This was not good. It starts off really well and at the halfway point it gets slower, but still held my interest. But I think the ending and resolution was what knocked it down two stars for me. It didn't sit right with me that the guilty party(ies) in essence get away with things and that one character is just cool with the fact that . Just one more book to go and I will have completed my series read.
"The Segull" follows Vera after she's forced to go and talk to inmates concerning the crimes they did and the impact on victims. One of the inmates is a former officer, John Brace, who knew Vera as a child. The two of them have long-standing ties since Brace was friends and ran around with Vera's deceased father Hector. The gang of four (made me think of the Christie novel) included Brace, Hector, a man named the Prof (who no one ever met/saw in real life it seems) and a 40ish year old man named Robbie Marshall. When Brace demands that Vera look in on his daughter and her children in exchange for the location of Robbie Marshall's dead body (Marshall disappeared more than 20 years earlier) she looks into the particulars of Marshall's disappearance in the 90s and the people that moved in his circle.
Vera is a bit off in this one at times. Being thrown information about Hector throws her and also worries her what her father was up to besides stealing eggs.
Joe and Holly are still front and center in this one and are tracking down leads. What I liked though is this one uses Charlie a lot more than the prior books and he shines in this one.
The cast of thousands (I am exaggerating) were not hard to keep straight. But I have to say that some of the motivations felt really off and it seemed that Cleeves had a great plot, but the resolution/execution were just half-hearted. I don't see Vera going for what ends up taking place in this one.
"The Segull" follows Vera after she's forced to go and talk to inmates concerning the crimes they did and the impact on victims. One of the inmates is a former officer, John Brace, who knew Vera as a child. The two of them have long-standing ties since Brace was friends and ran around with Vera's deceased father Hector. The gang of four (made me think of the Christie novel) included Brace, Hector, a man named the Prof (who no one ever met/saw in real life it seems) and a 40ish year old man named Robbie Marshall. When Brace demands that Vera look in on his daughter and her children in exchange for the location of Robbie Marshall's dead body (Marshall disappeared more than 20 years earlier) she looks into the particulars of Marshall's disappearance in the 90s and the people that moved in his circle.
Vera is a bit off in this one at times. Being thrown information about Hector throws her and also worries her what her father was up to besides stealing eggs.
Joe and Holly are still front and center in this one and are tracking down leads. What I liked though is this one uses Charlie a lot more than the prior books and he shines in this one.
The cast of thousands (I am exaggerating) were not hard to keep straight. But I have to say that some of the motivations felt really off and it seemed that Cleeves had a great plot, but the resolution/execution were just half-hearted. I don't see Vera going for what ends up taking place in this one.
July 10, 2019
Aaah, another new author discovery! I had such high hopes; the cover and blurb reminded me of David Baldacci… and I was similarly underwhelmed when reading my first Cleeves book.
Having heard so much about this author and seen so many of her books whilst out on my reading discoveries, I was full of anticipation when this book fell into my hands. I have also seen the television series, Vera, advertised (although never watched it). Yet, unbeknownst to me at the time of picking this up, I’ve launched myself into a book that is eighth, yes, eighth (!), in the series. Woeful! However, I am confident to report that I don’t really think the previous seven instalments are that important. I’m guessing here, but think you are just missing out on Vera’s backstory and more detail on her fellow officers. Like I said, it’s no deal breaker, even if it does break my OCD-heart that my first read is so far into a series.
Please don’t think that this is the reason for my rating because it certainly isn’t. I just didn’t find this book very thrilling or interesting. I was bored in places and often found my mind wandering whilst reading. The narrative focuses on a discovered dead body, which subsequently leads to a murder investigation which happened about twenty years previous. However, the suspects involved force the narrative into investigating men who were a group of criminals, money laundering and even taxidermy! Whilst there is a missing girl and an unidentified body also thrown into the mix, I found the topic just not suiting my own tastes. I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters and felt that the narrative lacked excitement and pace.
The most enjoyable element about this novel was the main character, Vera. I loved Cleeves’ characterisation, particularly Vera’s Yorkshire ways. She refers to many people as “Pet” and I could really picture her character in my head. She breaks all stereotypes of an investigating officer and I enjoyed this uniqueness. I would even go so far as to say that this would be a woman I’d love to meet in real life. Warm, friendly, yet determined – Vera comes across as someone to rely on in a crisis.
I am so disappointed that this book did not deliver. I was really looking forward to reading my first Ann Cleeves and I feel like this has really fallen flat. I am determined to try again with her works but will either look beyond this series, or start at the beginning!
Having heard so much about this author and seen so many of her books whilst out on my reading discoveries, I was full of anticipation when this book fell into my hands. I have also seen the television series, Vera, advertised (although never watched it). Yet, unbeknownst to me at the time of picking this up, I’ve launched myself into a book that is eighth, yes, eighth (!), in the series. Woeful! However, I am confident to report that I don’t really think the previous seven instalments are that important. I’m guessing here, but think you are just missing out on Vera’s backstory and more detail on her fellow officers. Like I said, it’s no deal breaker, even if it does break my OCD-heart that my first read is so far into a series.
Please don’t think that this is the reason for my rating because it certainly isn’t. I just didn’t find this book very thrilling or interesting. I was bored in places and often found my mind wandering whilst reading. The narrative focuses on a discovered dead body, which subsequently leads to a murder investigation which happened about twenty years previous. However, the suspects involved force the narrative into investigating men who were a group of criminals, money laundering and even taxidermy! Whilst there is a missing girl and an unidentified body also thrown into the mix, I found the topic just not suiting my own tastes. I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters and felt that the narrative lacked excitement and pace.
The most enjoyable element about this novel was the main character, Vera. I loved Cleeves’ characterisation, particularly Vera’s Yorkshire ways. She refers to many people as “Pet” and I could really picture her character in my head. She breaks all stereotypes of an investigating officer and I enjoyed this uniqueness. I would even go so far as to say that this would be a woman I’d love to meet in real life. Warm, friendly, yet determined – Vera comes across as someone to rely on in a crisis.
I am so disappointed that this book did not deliver. I was really looking forward to reading my first Ann Cleeves and I feel like this has really fallen flat. I am determined to try again with her works but will either look beyond this series, or start at the beginning!
July 19, 2017
Visit the locations in the novel here The Seagull
Well this takes Vera to a whole new level. She’ s just as curmudgeonly, still annoying Joe but there is a new side to her here, a vulnerable one and this time the reader gets to know her that little bit more.
Brilliantly dark and twisty. Her best yet. Review to come nearer the time but have this on your TBR pile. Intricate plotting - this seagull attacks, steals the chips, eats them and then pounces on you for more. Vera is back and then some!
FULL review in honour of Harrogate crime festival:
Well this takes Vera to a whole new level. She’ s just as curmudgeonly, still annoying Joe but there is a new side to her here, a vulnerable one and this time the reader gets to know her that little bit more.
A faded seaside town provides Vera with her most challenging case yet. The sense of foreboding was electric and the personal links to Vera really gave an insight in to the lady herself.
Her father is seemingly involved with her latest case and when she visits one of his associates in prison, finds a body and then is asked to look out for someone on the outside, Vera finds herself walking a very fine line. I’ve never found her vulnerable yet still with that frown and those vinegar laced comments. Vera is fearful of facing the past and with the way the present day case pans out, I’m not surprised. Bodies at St Mary’s Light house, a dodge club at Whitley Bay – this is her most personal case yet.
I also liked the way we got to know Joe more – his struggles at home with a new family and Holly too. A great cast of characters which bounce off each other with ease. The camaraderie is great too and the banter as strong as northern builder’s tea.
The central mystery is complex and dark but in a very good and clever way. This is the strongest Vera yet and the club and its dealings had such a menacing air – not even St Mary’s Lighthouse could shine on it and brighten it up – well there were two dead bodies out there.
Chillingly brilliant with a sense of menace and foreboding which really brought Vera to the forefront and gave me a thrilling new insight into the lady of the mac and hat.
Vera’s most personal case yet – Whitely Bay has never looked so dark and mysterious
Well this takes Vera to a whole new level. She’ s just as curmudgeonly, still annoying Joe but there is a new side to her here, a vulnerable one and this time the reader gets to know her that little bit more.
Brilliantly dark and twisty. Her best yet. Review to come nearer the time but have this on your TBR pile. Intricate plotting - this seagull attacks, steals the chips, eats them and then pounces on you for more. Vera is back and then some!
FULL review in honour of Harrogate crime festival:
Well this takes Vera to a whole new level. She’ s just as curmudgeonly, still annoying Joe but there is a new side to her here, a vulnerable one and this time the reader gets to know her that little bit more.
A faded seaside town provides Vera with her most challenging case yet. The sense of foreboding was electric and the personal links to Vera really gave an insight in to the lady herself.
Her father is seemingly involved with her latest case and when she visits one of his associates in prison, finds a body and then is asked to look out for someone on the outside, Vera finds herself walking a very fine line. I’ve never found her vulnerable yet still with that frown and those vinegar laced comments. Vera is fearful of facing the past and with the way the present day case pans out, I’m not surprised. Bodies at St Mary’s Light house, a dodge club at Whitley Bay – this is her most personal case yet.
I also liked the way we got to know Joe more – his struggles at home with a new family and Holly too. A great cast of characters which bounce off each other with ease. The camaraderie is great too and the banter as strong as northern builder’s tea.
The central mystery is complex and dark but in a very good and clever way. This is the strongest Vera yet and the club and its dealings had such a menacing air – not even St Mary’s Lighthouse could shine on it and brighten it up – well there were two dead bodies out there.
Chillingly brilliant with a sense of menace and foreboding which really brought Vera to the forefront and gave me a thrilling new insight into the lady of the mac and hat.
Vera’s most personal case yet – Whitely Bay has never looked so dark and mysterious
October 7, 2017
First Sentence: The woman could see the full sweep of the bay despite the dark and the absence of street lights where she stood.
An old enemy of Insp. Vera Stanhope, John Bruce asks that she visit him in prison where she helped put him. He wants to cut a deal; information on the whereabouts of the body of Robbie Marshall, a long-missing hustler in exchange to Vera looking out for his daughter and grandchildren. There is a very personal element to this case for Vera as Bruce, Marshall, and a man known only as “the Prof,” were close friends of her father, Hector Stanhope, bringing back memories Vera would prefer remain buried.
Cleeves creates such a strong sense of emotion—“Sometimes it felt as if her whole live had been spent in the half-light; in her dreams, she was moonlit, neon-lit, or she floated through the first gleam of dawn,”—and place—“The funfair at Spanish City was closed for the day, and quiet. She could see the silhouettes of the rides, marked by a string of coloured bulbs, gaudy in full sunlight, entrancing now.”
Those who follow the BBC television series “Vera” and may be disappointed by the departure of some characters, it’s nice to see that Holly and Joe are still here in the books. The description of Vera’s team is done in terms of their relationships to Vera. What is lovely is her understanding of what drives them, each member’s strength and what motivates them. Vera and Joe’s visit to the mother of a missing man is a sad reminder of the pain through which families go without the closure of knowing what happened.
There is honest police work here. The investigation is conducted by legwork as well as technology; getting out and talking with people. The case is worked step-by-step, without flash.
Vera’s self-awareness is admirable—“then she thought she was making a drama of the situation. She always did.” Yet, to her—“…the law matters. All those little people you despise so much have to abide by it, and so do you. So do I.”
“The Seagull” is such a good book. Beyond the excellent plot, what one really cares about is Vera and her team.
THE SEAGULL (Pol Proc-Inspector Vera Stanhope-England-Contemp) – Ex
Cleeves, Ann – 8th in series
Minotaur Books – Sept 2017
An old enemy of Insp. Vera Stanhope, John Bruce asks that she visit him in prison where she helped put him. He wants to cut a deal; information on the whereabouts of the body of Robbie Marshall, a long-missing hustler in exchange to Vera looking out for his daughter and grandchildren. There is a very personal element to this case for Vera as Bruce, Marshall, and a man known only as “the Prof,” were close friends of her father, Hector Stanhope, bringing back memories Vera would prefer remain buried.
Cleeves creates such a strong sense of emotion—“Sometimes it felt as if her whole live had been spent in the half-light; in her dreams, she was moonlit, neon-lit, or she floated through the first gleam of dawn,”—and place—“The funfair at Spanish City was closed for the day, and quiet. She could see the silhouettes of the rides, marked by a string of coloured bulbs, gaudy in full sunlight, entrancing now.”
Those who follow the BBC television series “Vera” and may be disappointed by the departure of some characters, it’s nice to see that Holly and Joe are still here in the books. The description of Vera’s team is done in terms of their relationships to Vera. What is lovely is her understanding of what drives them, each member’s strength and what motivates them. Vera and Joe’s visit to the mother of a missing man is a sad reminder of the pain through which families go without the closure of knowing what happened.
There is honest police work here. The investigation is conducted by legwork as well as technology; getting out and talking with people. The case is worked step-by-step, without flash.
Vera’s self-awareness is admirable—“then she thought she was making a drama of the situation. She always did.” Yet, to her—“…the law matters. All those little people you despise so much have to abide by it, and so do you. So do I.”
“The Seagull” is such a good book. Beyond the excellent plot, what one really cares about is Vera and her team.
THE SEAGULL (Pol Proc-Inspector Vera Stanhope-England-Contemp) – Ex
Cleeves, Ann – 8th in series
Minotaur Books – Sept 2017
November 5, 2017
The cover of this book is ghastly it is set in Whitley Bay at St.Mary's Lighthouse so Why did not put that on the cover?
Lot people who read this book will not have seen St.Marys they not all like me.I have photo of My Grandparents sat on the rocks under the lighthouse from 1950s & as child I often played there.
This like Wanking the dead a cold case from.1990s Vera Has step back over twenty years to solve a case best forgot.
This double murder of 1990s not just murder but past memories of past of father Hector & hope that the Prof will be found.This one her best Vera books for few year that I bet ITV spoils specially as The actor who played Joe left so one main characters in books isn't in the TV series
Lot people who read this book will not have seen St.Marys they not all like me.I have photo of My Grandparents sat on the rocks under the lighthouse from 1950s & as child I often played there.
This like Wanking the dead a cold case from.1990s Vera Has step back over twenty years to solve a case best forgot.
This double murder of 1990s not just murder but past memories of past of father Hector & hope that the Prof will be found.This one her best Vera books for few year that I bet ITV spoils specially as The actor who played Joe left so one main characters in books isn't in the TV series
March 17, 2018
I was a bit surprised by how much I loved this book which is a bit rude.
So I knew I liked Ann Cleeves writing because I have enjoyed 4 or 5 of her Jimmy Perez series but I wasn't expecting this to be so brilliant.
I have not read any other Vera Stanhope and this is number 8 in the series - it didn't matter that I read it out of order and maybe it was better because I missed out all of the character development?!
I loved Vera and her team and I was so immersed in the story. Multi-POV always works for me because my attention span is rubbish (yes, I am ashamed by that).
I can't explain why this book impressed me more than all the other police procedural books I read...I guess I just connected with the characters and the place (I do have a bit of a thing for English seaside towns right now) and the story is top notch! I do love Vera and can't wait to read more about her.
Now I am rushing off to collect all the other books in this series - highly recommended!
So I knew I liked Ann Cleeves writing because I have enjoyed 4 or 5 of her Jimmy Perez series but I wasn't expecting this to be so brilliant.
I have not read any other Vera Stanhope and this is number 8 in the series - it didn't matter that I read it out of order and maybe it was better because I missed out all of the character development?!
I loved Vera and her team and I was so immersed in the story. Multi-POV always works for me because my attention span is rubbish (yes, I am ashamed by that).
I can't explain why this book impressed me more than all the other police procedural books I read...I guess I just connected with the characters and the place (I do have a bit of a thing for English seaside towns right now) and the story is top notch! I do love Vera and can't wait to read more about her.
Now I am rushing off to collect all the other books in this series - highly recommended!
April 13, 2023
4.5 stars My favorite Vera, so far... I loved the cold case factoring in with the current investigation; and more layers of Vera's history revealed. I may not always like how Vera treats her coworkers, especially Joe and Holly, but she is a cracking good detective; and I always enjoy trailing in her wake!
April 21, 2018
This is the eighth book in Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series; my book group was reading it, which is why I didn’t start with the first Vera book (though this feels like the sort of series where the individual novels can stand alone). It is the basis for a popular TV adaptation featuring Brenda Blethyn, who has described Vera as “big, fat and ugly.” The inspector’s appearance is frequently commented upon, to the point where I felt it got a little excessive; one of her underlings notices her Velcro-strapped sandals, which reveal her “filthy” feet: “[he] felt a moment of revulsion.”
Vera is one of those detectives who is married to her job, which she does exceptionally well. In The Seagull, she is dealing with a cold case involving the discovery of two dead bodies which had remained hidden since the 1990s. One is identified right away, but the other is a mystery. Vera must consult a man in prison, John Brace, for information about the crime; Brace was a bent cop who was close friends with Vera’s late father, who frequently associated with shady figures, a group “held together by loyalty and shared secrets, that strange kind of male friendship that seemed more important to those involved than either marriage or family.”
At 400 pages, The Seagull seems a bit overlong, and the web of crimes, both modern-day and long-ago, grows almost too tangled. Apparently the Vera TV episodes each feature a complete case and clock in at a brisk 90 minutes. The story Cleeves tells in The Seagull is a good one, and maybe watching a pared-down version would prove more satisfying than reading the book.
Read the full review
Vera is one of those detectives who is married to her job, which she does exceptionally well. In The Seagull, she is dealing with a cold case involving the discovery of two dead bodies which had remained hidden since the 1990s. One is identified right away, but the other is a mystery. Vera must consult a man in prison, John Brace, for information about the crime; Brace was a bent cop who was close friends with Vera’s late father, who frequently associated with shady figures, a group “held together by loyalty and shared secrets, that strange kind of male friendship that seemed more important to those involved than either marriage or family.”
At 400 pages, The Seagull seems a bit overlong, and the web of crimes, both modern-day and long-ago, grows almost too tangled. Apparently the Vera TV episodes each feature a complete case and clock in at a brisk 90 minutes. The story Cleeves tells in The Seagull is a good one, and maybe watching a pared-down version would prove more satisfying than reading the book.
Read the full review
September 5, 2017
read an eARC provided by Netgalley.
The police work keeps you reading, but the final resolution is disappointing - not just in what the resolution is, but also in the way it is revealed, with the villain visiting our lady detective and they collectively re-narrating the actual story. I don't dig that in detective fiction / police procedurals anymore.
The fact that we have a middle-aged lady detective running the show is the charming bit, one that, I believe, has kept the series alive. This was, actually, my first ever detective fiction read with a lady at the helm of investigations. Terrible, I know!
The police work keeps you reading, but the final resolution is disappointing - not just in what the resolution is, but also in the way it is revealed, with the villain visiting our lady detective and they collectively re-narrating the actual story. I don't dig that in detective fiction / police procedurals anymore.
The fact that we have a middle-aged lady detective running the show is the charming bit, one that, I believe, has kept the series alive. This was, actually, my first ever detective fiction read with a lady at the helm of investigations. Terrible, I know!
November 15, 2017
A great story as Vera and her team gradually unwind a mystery dating back to 1995, when two bodies are found in a culvert by the coast, based on a tip off from an ex-policeman now in prison. Cleeves is very clever at letting the reader discover new information a bit at a time as different members of the team interview witnesses from twenty years ago and discover where some are lying . A great set of characters come alive in pursuit of the truth, with a dramatic ending.
September 16, 2017
Cleeves is always worth reading. Her characters are compelling and show growth through the series. Vera is a pip, and Brenda Blethyn, who plays her in the TV series captures her well. She's not a "pretty girl," but she works that to her advantage. People underestimate her at their peril. That quality comes in handy in this mystery, which revolves around people from Vera's past, including her difficult father and his former pals.
The mystery is well worked, and I couldn't figure out whodunnit until the end. That's good, but the problem is that Cleeves kept too many of the clues hidden. In the end, Vera had no proof and several of the baddies were already dead or in prison. I'm unhappy with mysteries that end with the detective explaining it all--rather like the ending of the Poirots. I don't feel I've had a sporting chance to solve the crime myself. And without evidence and with a baddie taking himself out, as it were (what's the motivation here? We don't know him well enough.), there's no justice. I think procedurals are about getting justice for the victims, but there wasn't any here. I wonder, too, if the unfortunate parents of the wild girl ever found out what happened.
In the end, the mystery is less satisfying that Cleeves's other books in this series. Still, she tells a good story.
The mystery is well worked, and I couldn't figure out whodunnit until the end. That's good, but the problem is that Cleeves kept too many of the clues hidden. In the end, Vera had no proof and several of the baddies were already dead or in prison. I'm unhappy with mysteries that end with the detective explaining it all--rather like the ending of the Poirots. I don't feel I've had a sporting chance to solve the crime myself. And without evidence and with a baddie taking himself out, as it were (what's the motivation here? We don't know him well enough.), there's no justice. I think procedurals are about getting justice for the victims, but there wasn't any here. I wonder, too, if the unfortunate parents of the wild girl ever found out what happened.
In the end, the mystery is less satisfying that Cleeves's other books in this series. Still, she tells a good story.
April 28, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this story! I tried so many theories but they never quite fit! I was surprised by the revelations in the end because even though a thought was correct it didn't apply to the person I imagined!
The 8th installment of the Vera Stanhope series is personal for the inspector because an old case involves her father Hector and some friends of his!
Ann Cleeves does a good job at writing about the past events and in creating an nostalgic atmosphere around them!
Her team consisting of Joe, Holly and Charlie is a nice balance of different personalities that each brings something else to the case! I liked that in this case Charlie was more involved!
The plot was interesting and it was easy to read! I have a few objections about some things but it's a good addition to the series!
Kinda hoped that Vera would have some kind of closure and move kinda forward and make some changes but maybe then her character wouldn't be the same!
Can't wait for the new story!
The 8th installment of the Vera Stanhope series is personal for the inspector because an old case involves her father Hector and some friends of his!
Ann Cleeves does a good job at writing about the past events and in creating an nostalgic atmosphere around them!
Her team consisting of Joe, Holly and Charlie is a nice balance of different personalities that each brings something else to the case! I liked that in this case Charlie was more involved!
The plot was interesting and it was easy to read! I have a few objections about some things but it's a good addition to the series!
Kinda hoped that Vera would have some kind of closure and move kinda forward and make some changes but maybe then her character wouldn't be the same!
Can't wait for the new story!
September 16, 2017
How very Vera. I consumed this book rather quickly because it had all the well-loved elements of the televised episodes I do enjoy. I probably read one of the earlier books before I started trying to keep track of my reads on this site, but I never made a thing out of reading the series when I had the watching with Brenda Blethyn's excellent portrayal of Vera. I will return it to the library forthwith to allow the next in Hold Line to enjoy this latest book.
The author hopes people may visit Whitley Bay some day and I only wish it were a wee bit closer for I would love that.
Vera's team works well together on this investigation into deaths from another era when her father Hector was part of a group of four...and her new boss makes a very brief and inconsequential visit on the pages. Vera's thoughts, however, lead one to believe it could be the beginning of the end.
The author hopes people may visit Whitley Bay some day and I only wish it were a wee bit closer for I would love that.
Vera's team works well together on this investigation into deaths from another era when her father Hector was part of a group of four...and her new boss makes a very brief and inconsequential visit on the pages. Vera's thoughts, however, lead one to believe it could be the beginning of the end.
July 25, 2018
Book Description:
A visit to her local prison brings DI Vera Stanhope face to face with an old enemy: former detective superintendent, and now inmate, John Brace. Brace was convicted of corruption and involvement in the death of a gamekeeper and Vera played a key part in his downfall.
Now, Brace promises Vera information about the disappearance of Robbie Marshall, a notorious wheeler-dealer who disappeared in the mid-nineties, if she will look out for his daughter and grandchildren. He tells her that Marshall is dead, and that his body is buried close to St Mary's Island in Whitley Bay. However, when a search team investigates, officers find not one skeleton, but two.
This cold case case takes Vera back in time, and very close to home, as Brace and Marshall, along with a mysterious stranger known only as 'the Prof', were close friends of Hector, her father. Together, they were the 'Gang of Four', regulars at a glamorous nightclub called The Seagull. Hector had been one of the last people to see Marshall alive. As the past begins to collide dangerously with the present, Vera confronts her prejudices and unwanted memories to dig out the truth . . .
The Seagull is a searing new novel by Sunday Times bestselling author Ann Cleeves, about corruption deep in the heart of a community, and fragile, and fracturing, family relationships.
My Review:
This is the 8th installment of the Vera Stanhope Mystery series. I enjoyed this one as it gave us a glimpse into more background about Hector Stanhope, Vera's dad. It stirs up thoughts about Vera's unhappy childhood and how her father was always too busy with his bird hobby and didn't really have much time for her. The book gets off to a slow start but then moves towards the middle through to the ending. The characters are interesting and the plot is intricately woven. Ann Cleeves' excellent descriptive writing makes the book very atmospheric and you feel you are a part of the story. The book is full of twists and turns which kept the pages turning. I look forward to reading the next in the series and I highly recommend these books to those who love mystery thrillers. I suggest they be read in order as the stories build one upon the other.
A visit to her local prison brings DI Vera Stanhope face to face with an old enemy: former detective superintendent, and now inmate, John Brace. Brace was convicted of corruption and involvement in the death of a gamekeeper and Vera played a key part in his downfall.
Now, Brace promises Vera information about the disappearance of Robbie Marshall, a notorious wheeler-dealer who disappeared in the mid-nineties, if she will look out for his daughter and grandchildren. He tells her that Marshall is dead, and that his body is buried close to St Mary's Island in Whitley Bay. However, when a search team investigates, officers find not one skeleton, but two.
This cold case case takes Vera back in time, and very close to home, as Brace and Marshall, along with a mysterious stranger known only as 'the Prof', were close friends of Hector, her father. Together, they were the 'Gang of Four', regulars at a glamorous nightclub called The Seagull. Hector had been one of the last people to see Marshall alive. As the past begins to collide dangerously with the present, Vera confronts her prejudices and unwanted memories to dig out the truth . . .
The Seagull is a searing new novel by Sunday Times bestselling author Ann Cleeves, about corruption deep in the heart of a community, and fragile, and fracturing, family relationships.
My Review:
This is the 8th installment of the Vera Stanhope Mystery series. I enjoyed this one as it gave us a glimpse into more background about Hector Stanhope, Vera's dad. It stirs up thoughts about Vera's unhappy childhood and how her father was always too busy with his bird hobby and didn't really have much time for her. The book gets off to a slow start but then moves towards the middle through to the ending. The characters are interesting and the plot is intricately woven. Ann Cleeves' excellent descriptive writing makes the book very atmospheric and you feel you are a part of the story. The book is full of twists and turns which kept the pages turning. I look forward to reading the next in the series and I highly recommend these books to those who love mystery thrillers. I suggest they be read in order as the stories build one upon the other.
January 8, 2025
One of my favorites (so far) of Ann Cleeve's Vera series. Of course, I think I may say that after I finish reading almost every one of them.
This book brings Vera face to face with her own past: her father Hector who was a member of the gang of four. She knows he engaged in criminal activities but now the question is: how far did he go? Was he capable of murder? And who is the mysterious fourth member of this gang, the Professor? Vera must search her own memories, long pushed aside as she tried to move past her painful youth to create a life of her own.
It all begins when Vera goes to speak at a prison (against her own wishes) and is asked to meet with a former police officer, John Brace, who was revealed as corrupt and was convicted of being involved in the death of a gamekeeper, an innocent victim (that is "innocent" as in not corrupt or a part of organized crime) who got in the way of Brace's greed. Brace asks Vera to look out for his daughter, the fruit of his liaison with a former sex worker and drug addict who disappeared many years ago. In exchange, he offers information about the long ago disappearance of a man the location of whose body Brace offers to Vera.
The bodies pile up and suspects abound and Cleeves weaves her usual spellbinding tale.
I watched the adaptation of this book in the Vera series (now streaming on BritBox in the States). As always, the changes made are interesting but this adaptation stays very close to the original.
Cleeves writing is so good, and her characters (especially Vera herself) and their relationships with each other, that I don't care if I know the endings. I'm doing a rewatch of the tv series (enjoying Brenda Blethyn's virtuoso performance as Vera) and working my way through the books simultaneously.
Definitely recommend to mystery lovers.
This book brings Vera face to face with her own past: her father Hector who was a member of the gang of four. She knows he engaged in criminal activities but now the question is: how far did he go? Was he capable of murder? And who is the mysterious fourth member of this gang, the Professor? Vera must search her own memories, long pushed aside as she tried to move past her painful youth to create a life of her own.
It all begins when Vera goes to speak at a prison (against her own wishes) and is asked to meet with a former police officer, John Brace, who was revealed as corrupt and was convicted of being involved in the death of a gamekeeper, an innocent victim (that is "innocent" as in not corrupt or a part of organized crime) who got in the way of Brace's greed. Brace asks Vera to look out for his daughter, the fruit of his liaison with a former sex worker and drug addict who disappeared many years ago. In exchange, he offers information about the long ago disappearance of a man the location of whose body Brace offers to Vera.
The bodies pile up and suspects abound and Cleeves weaves her usual spellbinding tale.
I watched the adaptation of this book in the Vera series (now streaming on BritBox in the States). As always, the changes made are interesting but this adaptation stays very close to the original.
Cleeves writing is so good, and her characters (especially Vera herself) and their relationships with each other, that I don't care if I know the endings. I'm doing a rewatch of the tv series (enjoying Brenda Blethyn's virtuoso performance as Vera) and working my way through the books simultaneously.
Definitely recommend to mystery lovers.
October 12, 2018
This is the 8th case for DI Vera Stanhope in which her fathers past and her past plays a role that is bound to have a bite. When she does a talk in the local prison she meets her former DI who got send away to prison, in which she played a part. He gives her a body in exchange for her looking into the affairs of his daughter, of another woman as his the wife.
The trouble starts when two skeletons are found where one was expected. It becomes a quest in to the past of Vera's father and his friends and the role a restaurant/ dancing by the name of "the Seagull" did play in the glorious past of Whitely.
Another slow burner in the book series starring Vera Stanhope, and like her tv show you'll never get any American-style policing with firefights and car chases. It is more about human nature and their social nature of society.
A truly enjoyable visit to the Yorkshire coast as always.
The trouble starts when two skeletons are found where one was expected. It becomes a quest in to the past of Vera's father and his friends and the role a restaurant/ dancing by the name of "the Seagull" did play in the glorious past of Whitely.
Another slow burner in the book series starring Vera Stanhope, and like her tv show you'll never get any American-style policing with firefights and car chases. It is more about human nature and their social nature of society.
A truly enjoyable visit to the Yorkshire coast as always.
September 27, 2017
Absolutely brilliant, I doubted whether this latest book could be as good as the others and I needn't have worried, I think they get better. In this one Vera and her team investigate a 20 year old murder after bodies are found in a culvert following a tip off from a previous Superintendent who is now in prison. We also find out more of Vera's childhood as her father Hector was involved with the disgraced Superintendent. I didn't want this to end, when can we expect more from Ann Cleeves. Recommended.
September 21, 2022
4.5 rounded up. When I’m looking for an audiobook, I often turn to Anne Cleeves who never disappoints. I have listened to all of the Shelter Island series and most of these Vera Stanhope books and dread the day when I get to the end of the line. Vera is a delightful character and the mysteries have several twists and turns with a complex cast of characters. This book centering on her late father’s friends was a little dark and not my favorite in the series but still a worthwhile listen.
January 22, 2020
An interesting mystery. I must admit that when I have been reading this book and I read the word when she called someone a pet that I cannot help but hear Brenda Blethyn’s Voice.
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